Lesson Plan
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Organic Farming / Agriculture

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Want an organic farming resource packed with experiments, background information, science fair projects, and topics of interest for further research? Here it is. Young environmental scientists can explore concepts involved in organic...
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Crops 2: What Plants Need to Grow

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore agriculture by participating in a plant growth activity. In this botany activity, students discuss what types of plants grow in their local environment and what the plants need to survive. Students read assigned text...
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Biotechnology: An Agricultural Dilemma

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the types of genetically modified crop plants there are and the benefits and risks of such plants. The agricultural needs in developing nations for this biological knowledge to resolve societal issues is also...
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Plant Part Exploration: Stems

For Teachers K - 5th Standards
Explore water transport in plant stems using this fun experiment! Your scientists will start by reading Stems by Vijaya Bodach. Then, activate prior knowledge about plant stem functions and water transportation....
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Botany: Irrigating of Rice

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover agriculture by researching the irrigation of rice.  In this farming lesson, 4th graders read about the different methods of rice farming and create an illustration for each different action.  Students...
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What Parts Are There to a Plant?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore botany by completing plant science worksheets. In this plant anatomy lesson, students examine real vegetables in class using magnifying glasses. Students identify the plants anatomy and complete worksheets discussing...
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How a Seed Grows: And Who Grows It

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore botany by viewing video clips in class. In this seed growth lesson, 2nd graders identify the types of seeds that grow specific plants and what the optimal conditions are for growing seeds. Students view a video...
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From One Seed Grow Many Seeds

For Teachers 1st
First graders practice identifying plants by singing a song.  In this plant life lesson, 1st graders sing the song "Parts of a Plant" which is based on the anatomy of sunflowers.  Students discover agriculture techniques while...
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Pair the Plants: An Introduction to Scientific Names

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners examine why plants have both common and scientific names, then complete the activity by matching each common plant name with its scientific name. They finish by working in cooperative groups to create an ABC of Plants class book.
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Where in the World?

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students evaluate botany by participating in a class discussion. For this agriculture lesson, students identify the importance of knowing where food comes from and they discuss what their breakfast consisted of and where it came from....
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Vermicomposting

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore agriculture by viewing compost related presentations. In this worm and soil lesson, 5th graders identify the relationship between good soil and the worms who inhabit it by reading assigned text in class. Students...
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Let's Sort a Salad

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students examine edible plants by identifying salad ingredients. In this botany instructional activity, students discuss the different vegetables that can be eaten in a salad and draw them on a worksheet. Students review vegetable...
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Kernels of Wisdom: Investigating Natural Variations in Corn

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Here is a brain-popper! Corn, or more appropriately, maize, was intentionally domesticated by humans around 9,000 years ago and over a period of hundreds to thousands of years! Genetics and botany researchers have collaborated to find...
Lesson Plan
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IN STRAWBERRY FIELDS

For Teachers 4th - 5th
The student will calculate wages of agricultural workers by the hour and by the piece.2. Share background material, and discuss the difference between gross pay and net pay and the difference between getting paid by the hour or the piece...
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Earth: The Food We Eat, The Seeds We Sow

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the importance of seed diversity for cultural and ecological stability/health. They discover what an heirloom seed is and why they are important to conserve.
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Will Biotech Crops Solve World Problems?

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Young scholars read an online article to examine what biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology are. They answer questions and complete worksheets based on the article's information.
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THE PEANUT WIZARD

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read information about George Washington Carver and outline the information. They are given peanuts in the shell, students examine them and eat them. Students discuss the following questions: Why did George Washington Carver...
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Mulch

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments on mulching. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the benefits of mulching on soil. They explore how different types of mulch affect plant growth.
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Plant Disease Identification and Classification by Using Sterile Techniques

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders identify how to use sterile techniques when identifying plant pathogens.  In this plant diseases lesson students complete a lab activity in which they see how plant diseases are identified and classified.
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Fungi

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students examine the characteristics of fungi. In this biology lesson, students investigate the factors needed for fungi growth. They collect data and observations and write a report about them.
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Biggest Trees in the United States

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use the Internet (or printed sources) to locate information. They fill in missing information on a graphic organizer (chart) and use the data to answer questions. The research skills help students to develop higher order...
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How Does Your Tree Measure Up?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners work in pairs or small groups to gather data about a tree. Each group might gather data about a different tree; all groups might collect data about the same tree; or two teams might gather data about each tree and compare their...
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Squanto's Science Lesson

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore Squanto's contribution to the settlers. They plant seeds and follow instructions for water and fertilization. Students keep a record of the growth of the seeds. They write a paragraph that tells what they learned from...
Lesson Plan
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Goobers. Goobers? Goobers!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students begin the lesson by noting the many ways in which to use peanuts. In groups, they use the internet to research the work of George Washington Carver. They discover the allergies and nutritional information of the peanut and...